Sheet-supply tray

ABSTRACT

A sheet-supply tray device for use with an image recording apparatus, includes a lower sheet-supply tray and an upper sheet-supply tray. The upper sheet-supply tray includes a main body, a leading-end stopper, a trailing-end stopper and a side-end stopper. The main body includes a support surface that supports a recording sheet. The leading-end stopper is fixed on the main body and stops a leading end of the recording sheet. The trailing-end stopper includes a trailing-end contact surface having a trailing-end protrusion extending over an upper surface of a trailing-end portion of the recording sheet toward the leading-end stopper. The trailing-end contact surface contacts a trailing end of the recording sheet. The side-end stopper includes a side-end contact surface that contacts a side end of the recording sheet. The side-end contact surface has at least one side-end protrusion extending over an upper surface of a side-end portion of the recording sheet.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/222,358 filed on Mar. 21, 2014, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/185,214 filed on Jul. 18, 2011,which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,714,852 B2 on May 6, 2014, which is acontinuation U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/678,136 filed on Feb.23, 2007, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,997,818 B2 on Aug. 16, 2011,and which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2006-046966 filed on Feb. 23, 2006, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus thatrecords an image on a recording sheet, and in particular to aconstruction of a sheet-supply tray device that is employed by the imagerecording apparatus and that accommodates a plurality of recordingsheets.

2. Discussion of Related Art

FIG. 12 shows an internal construction of a conventional ink-jet-typeimage recording apparatus disclosed by, e.g., Japanese PatentApplication Publication No. 2005-246907.

In a lower portion of the ink-jet image recording apparatus, there isprovided a sheet-supply tray 201 that accommodates a plurality ofrecording sheets. A sheet-supply roller 202 as a sheet mover is providedabove the sheet-supply tray 201. Rotation of the sheet-supply roller 202results in supplying, from the sheet-supply tray 201, the recordingsheets, one by one, in a sheet-supply direction. Each recording sheet isconveyed along a sheet-convey path 203 represented by a two-dot-chainline. An ink-jet recording head 204 is provided midway in thesheet-convey path 203, and a platen 205 is opposed to the ink-jetrecording head 204. A drive roller 206 and a presser roller 207 areprovided on an upstream side of the ink-jet recording head 204, andcooperate with each other to nip each recording sheet and convey thesame to the recording head 204. While the ink-jet recording head 204 ismoved in a scanning direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet of FIG.12, the recording head 204 eject droplets of ink toward the recordingsheet being temporarily positioned on the platen 205, so as to record animage on the recording sheet. A sheet-discharge roller 208 and a presserroller 209 are provided on a downstream side of the ink-jet recordinghead 204, and cooperate with each other to nip the recording sheet onwhich the image has been recorded and discharge the same to asheet-discharge tray 210.

Meanwhile, the ink-jet recording head 204 may record, e.g., a documenton an A4-Size ordinary sheet or record, e.g., a picture on an L-Sizeglossy sheet. That is, the ink-jet recording apparatus may deal withrecording sheets of different sorts (e.g., different materials ordifferent sizes), depending upon images to be recorded. If, when a firstimage is recorded on a recording sheet of a first sort and subsequentlya second image is recorded on a recording sheet of a different, secondsort, a user needs to replace all the recording sheets of the firstsort, remaining in the sheet-supply tray 201, with the recording sheetsof the second sort, it is very cumbersome for the user.

Although a single sheet-supply tray can simultaneously accommodaterecording sheets of different sorts, it is required that the recordingsheets of one sort do not interfere with replenishing of the recordingsheets of the other sort, and it is also required that when therecording sheets of the other sort is replenished, the recording sheetsof the one sort be prevented from being irreversibly folded back, ordropping out of the sheet-supply tray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the above-identified background, the present invention has beendeveloped. It is therefore an object of the present invention to solveat least one of the above-identified problems. It is another object ofthe present invention to provide an image recording apparatus that canaccommodate a plurality of sorts of recording sheets and that can permita user to replenish, without damaging recording sheets of a first sort,recording sheets of a second sort.

According to the present invention, there is provided an image recordingapparatus, comprising a sheet-supply tray device which accommodates andholds a plurality of recording sheets and which supplies the recordingsheets, one by one, in a sheet-supply direction; and an image recordingdevice which records an image on each of the recording sheets suppliedfrom the sheet-supply tray device. The sheet-supply tray device includesa first tray which accommodates and holds at least one first sheet ofthe plurality of recording sheets; a second tray which accommodates andholds at least one second sheet of the plurality of recording sheets,and which selectively takes a stacked posture thereof in which thesecond tray is stacked on the first tray, and an opening posture thereofin which at least a portion of the second tray opens at least a portionof the first tray; and a supporting device which supports at least theportion of the second tray while permitting the second tray toselectively take the stacked posture thereof and the opening posturethereof such that the at least one second sheet held by the second trayis not plastically deformed.

In the present image recording apparatus, the sheet-supply tray deviceincludes the first and second trays and accordingly can simultaneouslyaccommodate at least two sorts of recording sheets. Thus, the imagerecording apparatus can record, e.g., a document on an A4-Size ordinarysheet and also record, e.g., a picture on an L-Size glossy sheet, whilea user need not replace the A4-Size ordinary sheets with the L-Sizeglossy sheets or vice versa. When the user replenishes the first traywith a first sort of recording sheets, the posture of the second tray ischanged, relative to the first tray, from its stacked posture to itsopening posture. Thus, the first tray is opened and accordingly the usercan easily replenish the first tray with the first sort of recordingsheets. In addition, when the first tray is replenished with the firstsort of recording sheets, i.e., when the second tray is changed to itsopening posture, a second sort of recording sheets accommodated by thesecond tray can be prevented from being wrinkled, folded back,plastically deformed, or dropping out of the second tray. Thus, thereplenishing of the first tray with the first sort of recording sheetscan be easily carried out by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and optional objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be better understood by reading the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments of the invention whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external construction of amulti-function device (MFD) to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal construction of theMFD;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sheet-supply tray device of the MFD;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sheet-supply tray device;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along 5, 5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along 6, 6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an opening posture of a second trayof the sheet-supply tray device;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the opening posture of the second tray ofthe sheet-supply tray device;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along 9, 9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a construction of the sheet-supplytray device;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the changing of posture of thesecond tray of the sheet-supply tray device; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing an internal construction of aconventional ink-jet recording apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, there will be described preferred embodiments of thepresent invention by reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an external appearance of a “multi-function device (MFD)”1; and FIG. 2 shows an internal construction of the MFD 1.

The MFD 1 has a printer function, a scanner function, a copier function,and a facsimile-machine function, and includes a printer portion 2provided in a lower portion thereof, and a scanner portion 3 provided inan upper portion thereof that is integral with the lower portion. In theMFD 1, the printer portion 2 corresponds to an image recording apparatusto which the present invention is applied, and accordingly the functionsother than the printer function may be omitted. That is, the principleof the present invention is applicable to not only the MFD 1 but also asingle-function printer that has only the printer function and does nothave the scanner, copier, or facsimile-machine function.

When the MFD 1 functions as the printer, the MFD1 may be connected to anexternal computer, not shown, so that the printer portion 2 may record,based on image data or document data supplied from the computer, animage or a document on a recording sheet such as a paper sheet. Inaddition, the MFD 1 may be connected to an external device such as adigital camera, so that the printer portion 2 may record, based on imagedata supplied from the digital camera, an image on a recording sheet.Moreover, the MFD 1 may include a recording-medium receiving portionthat can receive each of various sorts of recording media, such as amemory card, so that the printer portion 2 may record, based on imagedata stored by the each recording medium, an image on a recording sheet.

When the MFD 1 functions as the scanner, the scanner portion 3 reads anoriginal image and transmits image data representing the read image, tothe computer. Alternatively, the image data may be recorded on any ofvarious sorts of recording media, such as a memory card. When the MFD 1functions as the copier, the scanner portion 3 reads an original imageand the printer portion 2 records, based on image data representing theread image, an image on a recording sheet. When the MFD 1 functions asthe facsimile machine, the scanner portion 3 reads an original image andtransmits, via a telephone line, image data representing the read image,to a remote facsimile machine. In addition, based on facsimile datareceived by the MFD 1, the printer portion 2 may record an image on arecording sheet.

As shown in FIG. 1, a length and a width of the MFD 1 are greater than aheight thereof. Thus, the MFD 1 has a flat appearance with a generallyrectangular parallelepiped shape. In the lower portion of the MFD 1, theprinter portion 2 is provided. The printer portion 2 has a front opening4 formed in a front surface of the MFD 1, and additionally has asheet-supply tray device 20 and a sheet-discharge tray 21 both of whichare exposed through the front opening 4. The sheet-supply tray device 20can accommodate a plurality of sorts of recording sheets, e.g., sheetsof different sizes not larger than A4 Size, such as A4 Size, B5 Size, orPostcard Size. As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet-supply tray device 20includes a slideable member 20 a that is extensible frontward toincrease an area of a bottom surface (i.e., a sheet-support surface) ofthe tray device 20, so that the tray device 20 can accommodateLegal-Size recording sheets. The recording sheets stored by thesheet-supply tray device 20 are supplied, one by one, to an imagerecording unit 24 (i.e., an image recording device) of the printerportion 2, so that a desired image may be recorded on each recordingsheet and then the each recording sheet is discharged onto thesheet-discharge tray 21.

The scanner portion 3 is provided in the upper portion of the MFD 1. Thescanner portion 3 is a so-called “flat-bed” scanner. As shown in FIGS. 1and 2, the scanner portion 3 includes a glass plate 31 on which anoriginal sheet having an original image is placed; a pivotable covermember 30 that can be freely opened and freely closed to cover theoriginal sheet placed on an upper surface of the glass plate 31; and animage sensor 32 that is provided below a lower surface of the glassplate 31 and reads the original image from the original sheet placed onthe glass plate 31. The cover member 30 also functions as a top plate ofthe MFD 1. The image sensor 32 can be reciprocated in a directionperpendicular to the drawing sheet of FIG. 2.

The cover member 30 includes an original-sheet tray 33; asheet-discharge tray 34; and an ADF (automatic document feeder) 5 thatcontinuously feeds original sheets from the original-sheet tray 33 tothe sheet-discharge tray 34 along a sheet-feed path, not shown. When theADF 5 feeds each original sheet, the original sheet is temporarilyplaced on the glass plate 31, so that the image sensor 32, providedbelow the glass plate 31, reads an original image of the original sheet.

An operation panel 6 is provided in a front end portion of a top portionof the MFD 1. The operation panel 6 is for operating the printer portion2 and the scanner portion 3. The operation panel 6 includes variousoperation keys 35 and a liquid crystal display (LCD) 36 that are usableby a user to input various commands to operate the MFD 1. In the casewhere the MFD 1 is connected to an external computer such as a personalcomputer (PC), the MFD 1 can be operated according to commands suppliedfrom the external computer via a printer driver or a scanner driver.

The MFD 1 has, in the front surface thereof, a slot portion 7 into whichvarious sorts of small-size memory cards can be inserted. When theoperation panel 6 is operated by the user in an appropriate manner, theMFD 1 reads image data stored by the memory card inserted in the slotportion 7, and the LCD 36 of the operation panel 6 displays, based onthe thus read image data, information related to the image data. Thus,the user can select, by operating the various keys 35 of the operationpanel 6, one or more desired images from the image data, so that theprinter portion 2 may record or print the image(s) on the recordingsheet(s).

The present invention relates to the construction of the sheet-supplytray device 20 of the MFD 1. The sheet-supply tray device 20 has thefollowing features: First, the tray device 20 has a double-trayarrangement, i.e., includes an upper tray and a lower tray, describedlater. Second, the tray device 20 is constructed as a unit wherein aportion of the tray device 20 also functions as the sheet-discharge tray21. Since the sheet-supply tray device 20 has the double-trayarrangement, the tray device 20 can simultaneously accommodate differentsorts of recording sheets. In addition, the user can replenish one ofthe upper and lower trays with a first sort of recording sheets, withoutdamaging a second sort of recording sheets accommodated and held by theother tray.

Hereinafter, the internal construction of the MFD 1, in particular, theconstruction of the printer portion 2 will be described by reference tothe drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet-supply tray device 20 isprovided in the bottom portion of the MFD 1. The tray device 20 isinsertable into, and removable from, a housing of the MFD 1 via thefront opening 4, in rightward and leftward directions in FIG. 2. In thestate in which the sheet-supply tray device 20 is inserted in thehousing, the recording sheets accommodated by the tray device 20 can besupplied, one by one, toward the image recording unit 24 along thesheet-convey path 23. Meanwhile, in the state in which the sheet-supplytray device 20 is removed from the housing, the tray device 20 can bereplenished with new recording sheets. The sheet-supply tray device 20has an inclined sheet-separate plate 102 that is provided in adownstream-side end portion thereof with respect to a sheet-supplydirection in which each recording sheet is supplied from the tray device20. The sheet-separate plate 102 is inclined toward a rear surface ofthe MFD 1. The inclined sheet-separate plate 102 is for separating eachof the recording sheets stacked in the sheet-supply tray device 20, fromthe other recording sheets, and guiding a movement of the separatedrecording sheet in an upward direction toward the sheet-convey path 23.As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet-convey path 23 first extends upward fromthe sheet-separate plate 102, and then curves toward the front surfaceof the MFD 1. That is, the sheet-convey path 23 extends from the rearportion of the MFD 1 toward the front portion thereof via the imagerecording unit 24 and the sheet-discharge tray 21. Thus, thesheet-convey path 23 includes a U-turn portion through which thedirection of conveying of each recording sheet is reversed from therearward direction to the frontward direction before the recording sheetis supplied to the image recording unit 24. After the image recordingunit 24 records the image on the recording sheet, the each sheet isdischarged onto the sheet-discharge tray 21.

The sheet-supply tray device 20 has a generally rectangular shape, andincludes a first tray 91 and a second tray 92 that is stacked on thefirst tray 91. As will be described later, the second tray 92 can beraised from, and laid on, the first tray 91. More specificallydescribed, the second tray 92 can change its posture between its stackedposture (FIGS. 3 and 4) in which the second tray 92 is stacked on thefirst tray 91, and its opening posture (FIGS. 7 through 9) in which thesecond tray 92 opens the first tray 91. In the present embodiment, thefirst tray 91 can accommodate a plurality of stacked ordinary papersheets that are not larger than A4-Size sheets (i.e., a first sort ofrecording sheets); and the second tray 92 can accommodate a plurality ofstacked special paper sheets such as L-Size glossy sheets or postcards(i.e., a second sort of recording sheets). Thus, the sheet-supply traydevice 20 that simultaneously accommodate and hold the two sorts ofstacked recording sheets can be inserted into, and removed from, theprinter portion 2. However, according to the principle of the presentinvention, the first and second sorts of recording sheets that can beaccommodated by the sheet-supply tray device 20 are not limited to theabove-described kinds and sizes. For example, the first tray 91 mayaccommodate the glossy sheets, and the second tray 92 may accommodatethe ordinary sheets. In addition, each of the first and second trays 91,92 may accommodate other sorts of recording sheets or media than thepaper sheets.

FIG. 7 shows the sheet-supply tray device 20 in a state in which thesecond tray 92 takes the stacked posture; and FIG. 8 shows thesheet-supply tray device 20 in a state in which the second tray 92 takesthe opening posture.

The first tray 91 is formed of a synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 7,the first tray 91 includes a pair of side-end guides 93, 94 that areslideable in a widthwise direction thereof, i.e., a direction indicatedby Arrow 50 in FIGS. 7 and 8 or a direction perpendicular to the drawingsheet of FIG. 9. The first side-end guide 93 includes a support plate95, and a side plate 96 that extends vertically upward from the supportplate 95. Similarly, the second side-end guide 94 includes a supportplate 97, and a side plate 98 that extends vertically upward from thesupport plate 97. The ordinary paper sheets are placed on, and held by,the two side-end guides 93, 94.

A linear guide bar 99 extends from the first support plate 95 toward thesecond support plate 97; and another linear guide bar (not shown)extends from the second support plate 97 toward the first support plate95. Thus, the two linear guide bars 99 are spaced from, and opposed to,each other in a lengthwise direction of the first tray 91, and extendparallel to each other in the widthwise direction of the same 91.Respective opposed surfaces of the two linear guide bars 99 that areopposed to each other have respective racks, and a pinion gear isprovided between the two racks such that the pinion gear is meshed witheach of the two racks. Thus, the two linear guide bars 99 are connectedto each other via the rack-and-pinion device. Moreover, the two linearguide bars 99 fit in respective grooves (not shown) formed in a bottomwall 101 (i.e., a sheet-support wall) of the first tray 91. The twogrooves extend in the widthwise direction of the first tray 91, and eachof the two linear guide bars 99 is slideable in a corresponding one ofthe two grooves. In the present embodiment, the above-describedsheet-supply direction is defined as being parallel to the bottom wall101 (i.e., the sheet-support wall) of the first tray 91.

Owing to the rack-and-pinion device, the two linear guide bars 99 aremoved or displaced symmetrically with respect to a longitudinalcenterline of the first tray 91 that is parallel to the sheet-supplydirection. Therefore, if recording sheets are placed on the two side-endguides 93, 94 and the two side-end guides 93, 94 are slid in thewidthwise direction of the first tray 91, then the two side plates 96,98 engage opposite side edges of each of the recording sheets,respectively. Thus, the recording sheets are positioned relative to thefirst tray 91, such that respective longitudinal centerlines of therecording sheets are aligned with the longitudinal centerline of thefirst tray 91. That is, irrespective of the size of the recordingsheets, the recording sheets accommodated by the first tray 91 arepositioned relative to the same 91, such that the respectivelongitudinal centerlines of the recording sheets are aligned with thelongitudinal centerline of the first tray 91. In addition, the two sideplates 96, 98 cooperate with each other to direct the recording sheetssuch that the widthwise opposite side edges of each of the recordingsheets extend parallel to the lengthwise direction of the first tray 91,i.e., the sheet-supply direction in which each recording sheet issupplied from the same 91. Thus, when each recording sheet is suppliedfrom the first tray 91, the each recording sheet can be prevented frombeing obliquely moved relative to the sheet-supply direction andaccordingly occurrence of jamming of the each sheet can be effectivelyprevented.

The first tray 91 additionally includes a trailing-end positioning plate100 that extends upward from the bottom wall 101 of the tray 91 and isslideable in the lengthwise direction of the same 91. The trailing-endpositioning plate 100 can be slid to engage respective trailing ends ofthe recording sheets stacked on the bottom wall 101, and therebyposition the recording sheets in the lengthwise direction of the firsttray 91. Owing to the two side-end guides 93, 94 and the trailing-endpositioning plate 100, the recording sheets are positioned with respectto the widthwise and lengthwise directions of the first tray 91, so thatwhen each recording sheet is supplied from the first tray 91, the eachrecording sheet can be effectively prevented from being obliquely movedrelative to the sheet-supply direction.

Moreover, the first tray 91 includes the inclined sheet-separate plate102 provided in a lengthwise rear end portion thereof, i.e., in adownstream-side end portion thereof in the sheet-supply direction. Theinclined sheet-separate plate 102 is formed integrally with the firsttray 91. A sheet-separate member 103 formed of a metal is provided in amiddle portion of the inclined sheet-separate plate 102. Each recordingsheet to be supplied from the sheet-supply tray device 20 first engagesthe sheet-separate member 103. Thus, even if a plurality of recordingsheets may be simultaneously moved by a sheet-supply roller 25, only theuppermost one of those recording sheets is separated from the otherrecording sheet(s) and is supplied to the sheet-convey path 23.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second tray 92 is supported by aperipheral wall 89 of the first tray 91, such that the second tray 92 isslideable relative to the first tray 91 in the lengthwise directionthereof. In a state in which the second tray 92 is in an advancedposition thereof relative to the first tray 91, as shown in FIGS. 3 and4, the second sort of recording sheets (i.e., the special paper sheets)accommodated by the second tray 92 can be supplied, one by one, to theimage recording unit 24. Meanwhile, in a state in which the second tray92 is in a retracted position thereof relative to the first tray 91, asshown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first sort of recording sheets (i.e., theordinary paper sheets) accommodated by the first tray 92 can besupplied, one by one, to the image recording unit 24.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second tray 92 includes a locking member 108that is provided in a left-hand-side portion of the tray 92 and isslideable in a widthwise direction thereof. If the locking member 108 isslid leftward, i.e., outward at a prescribed position relative to thefirst tray 91, then the locking member 108 is engaged with the firsttray 91, so that the second tray 92 is positioned relative to the firsttray 91. However, the locking member 108 may be elastically biased toproject outward from the second tray 92. In the latter case, when thesecond tray 92 is slid relative to the first tray 91 in the lengthwisedirection thereof and is stopped at the prescribed position relative tothe first tray 91, the locking member 108 automatically projects, owingto the elastic biasing force, outward from the second tray 92 so as tobe engaged with the first tray 91. Thus, the second tray 92 isautomatically positioned relative to the first tray 91.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second tray 92 includes two portions, i.e., abase portion 106 and a pivotable portion 107 (i.e., a displaceableportion). In the state in which the locking member 108 is engaged withthe first tray 91, the base portion 106 is temporarily fixed to thefirst tray 91. On the other hand, in the state in which the lockingmember 108 is disengaged from the first tray 91, the base portion 106can be slid relative to the first tray 91. The pivotable portion 107 isconnected to the base portion 106 via a supporting device 104 thatincludes a pair of pivotal support shafts 105. That is, the pivotableportion 107 is hinged with the base portion 106, such that the pivotableportion 107 is pivotable about a common axis line of the pivotal supportshafts 105 relative to the base portion 106 and the first tray 91.

In the present embodiment, the two pivotal support shafts 105 are fixedto the base portion 106. The pivotable portion 107 includes a pair ofbearing portions 109 that bear the two pivotal support shafts 105,respectively. However, the two pivotal support shafts 105 may be fixedto the pivotable portion 107, and the base portion 106 may include thetwo bearing portions 109. Therefore, the pivotable portion 107 ispivotable between a laid posture thereof, shown in FIG. 5, in which thepivotable portion 107 is laid on the first tray 91, and a raised posturethereof, shown in FIG. 9, in which the pivotable portion 107 is raisedfrom the first tray 91. The laid posture of the pivotable portion 107corresponds to the above-described stacked posture of the second tray92; and the raised posture of the pivotable portion 107 corresponds tothe above-described opening posture of the second tray 92. In thepresent embodiment, the raised posture of the pivotable portion 107 isestablished by pivoting the pivotable portion 107 by 110 degrees fromits laid posture. The angle of pivotal motion of the pivotable portion107 has no limitations. However, preferably, the angle is not smallerthan 90 degrees and, more preferably, the angle is not smaller than 90degrees and not greater than 120 degrees. Any known stopper means may beemployed to limit the pivotal motion of the pivotable portion 107relative to the base portion 106 in a direction from its laid posture toits raised posture. For example, the pivotable portion 107 is providedwith one or more projections. In the latter case, when the pivotableportion 107 is pivoted by a prescribed angle, those projections willbutt on the base portion 106 so as to prevent a further pivotal motionof the pivotable portion 107. A position where the common axis line ofthe two pivotal support shafts 105 is located is determined in a mannerdescribe later.

The special paper sheets are accommodated and held by the pivotableportion 107. To this end, the pivotable portion 107 includes a recessedportion 110 into which the special sheets can be inserted. The recessedportion 110 is formed by recessing a central portion of the pivotableportion 107 in a downward direction toward the first tray 91. Thespecial sheets are placed on a bottom surface 113 (i.e., a sheet-supportsurface) of the recessed portion 110 of the pivotable portion 107. Inthe present embodiment, the sheet-supply direction is defined as beingparallel to the bottom surface 113 (i.e., the sheet-support surface) ofthe pivotable portion 107. A pair of sheet covers 111, 112 as a pair ofsheet-dropping preventing covers cooperate with each other to partlycover the bottom surface 113. The two sheet covers 111, 112 respectivelycontact opposite side edges of each of the special sheets accommodatedby the recessed portion 110, and thereby cooperatively position the eachspecial sheet in the widthwise direction of the second tray 92 and holdthe each sheet.

The first sheet cover 111 has an L-shaped cross section. Morespecifically described, the first sheet cover 111 includes a plate-likeleg portion 118 extending vertically upward from the bottom surface 113and having an inner surface 118 a as a first side-end contact surface,and additionally includes a plate-like top portion 114 as a firstside-end protrusion extending horizontally from an upper end of theinner surface 118 a of the leg portion 118 toward the second sheet cover112. Thus, the top portion 114 extends parallel to the bottom surface113, and is opposed to the same 113. A dimension of a space left betweenthe bottom surface 113 and the top portion 114 has no limitations. Inthe present embodiment, the distance is so selected that the recessedportion 110 can accommodate a prescribed number of special paper sheets,for example, the distance may be selected at from 5 mm to 15 mm.

The second sheet cover 112 also has an L-shaped cross section, andincludes a plate-like leg portion 115 and a plate-like top portion 116.The leg portion 115 extends vertically upward from the bottom surface113 and has an inner surface 115 a as a second side-end contact surface,and the top portion 116 as a second side-end protrusion extendshorizontally from an upper end of the inner surface 115 a of the legportion 115 toward the first sheet cover 111. Thus, the top portion 116also extends parallel to the bottom surface 113, and is opposed to thesame 113. A dimension of a space left between the bottom surface 113 andthe top portion 116 is equal to the dimension of the space left betweenthe bottom surface 113 and the top portion 114.

Since the second tray 92 has the two sheet covers 111, 112, the specialpaper sheets accommodated by the tray 92 can be reliably held by thesame 92. Therefore, even if the second tray 92 may change its posture inthe state in which the special sheets are accommodated by the tray 92,the special sheets can be prevented from dropping out of the tray 92,i.e., falling from the same 92. In addition, the two sheet covers 111,112 cooperate with each other to guide the special sheets being insertedinto the space present between the bottom surface 113 and the covers111, 112 in a direction indicated by Arrow 119 (FIG. 3). When the secondtray 92 is replenished with new special paper sheets, first, thesheet-supply tray device 20 is removed from the housing of the MFD 1,and then the special sheets are inserted into the second tray 92 in thedirection indicated by Arrow 119.

The respective planar top portions 114, 116 of the two sheet covers 111,112 extend in the lengthwise direction of the second tray 92, i.e., thesheet-supply direction. The second top portion 116 extends to a positionnear the supporting device 104, whereas the first top portion 114extends to only a position corresponding to an intermediate portion ofthe second top portion 116, i.e., does not have a downstream-side endportion in the sheet-supply direction and has an inclined end surface114 a. Since the downstream-side end portion of the first top portion114 is cut away, special paper sheets can be easily inserted into thespace left between the bottom surface 113 and the respective topportions 114, 116 of the two sheet covers 111, 112, in the directionindicated by Arrow 119.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 9, the base portion 106 includes aleading-end contact member 120 (or a leading-end contact wall) thatprojects from a downstream-side end of the base portion 106 such thatthe leading-end contact member 120 extends substantially parallel to theinclined sheet-separate plate 102 of the first tray 91. A leading end ofeach of the special paper sheets accommodated by the recessed portion110 contacts an inner surface of the leading-end contact member 120, sothat the leading end of each special sheet is positioned relative to thesecond tray 92. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pivotableportion 107 includes a trailing-end contact member 121 (or atrailing-end contact wall) that extends upward from the bottom surface113 and whose inner surface 121 a contacts a trailing end of each of thespecial sheets and has a trailing-end protrusion 121 b extending towardthe leading-end contact member 120. Thus, the trailing end of eachspecial sheet is positioned relative to the second tray 92. As shown inFIG. 3, the trailing-end contact member 121 is slideable, in thelengthwise direction of the second tray 92, between a first positionindicated by solid lines and a second position indicated by brokenlines. Therefore, even if the current sort of special sheets may bereplaced with a different sort of special sheets having a differentdimension in the lengthwise direction of the second tray 92, thetrailing end of each of the different sort of special sheets can bereliably positioned by the trailing-end contact member 121.

FIG. 10 is a view for illustratively showing the construction of thesheet-supply tray device 20 and explaining a manner in which theposition of the common axis line of the pivotal support shafts 105 isdetermined.

As shown in the figure, the second tray 92 is provided on the first tray91 and, if the pivotable portion 107 thereof is pivoted to its raisedposture, then the second tray 92 is changed to its opening posture. Thepivotable portion 107 is pivotable between its laid and raised posturesabout the common axis line of the pivotal support shafts 105. The twopivotal support shafts 105 are provided in the vicinity of the boundarybetween the base portion 106 and the pivotable portion 107, and thecommon axis line of the two pivotal support shafts 105 extend in thewidthwise direction of the sheet-supply tray device 20, i.e., thedirection perpendicular to the sheet-supply direction. The common axisline of the two pivotal support shafts 105 is located at such a positionassuring that even if the pivotable portion 107 may be pivoted relativeto the base portion 106 and accordingly the second tray 92 may changeits posture, the special paper sheets accommodated by the second tray 92remain safely held thereby without being plastically or irreversiblydeformed (e.g., folded back).

However, the above-indicated position cannot be univocally determined.More specifically described, that position can be determined based onrespective positions of a downstream-side end, and the trailing-endcontact member 121, of the pivotable portion 107 when the pivotableportion 107 is in its laid posture, respective positions of thedownstream-side end and the trailing-end contact member 121 when thepivotable portion 107 is in its raised posture, and/or the angle ofpivotal motion of the pivotable portion 107 between its laid and raisedpostures. However, those positions and that angle are not given as asingle set of solutions, i.e., there are a plurality of sets ofsolutions for the positions and the angle. Therefore, there are aplurality of solutions for the above-described position that assuresthat when the second tray 92 changes its posture, the special papersheets are not plastically deformed.

In the present embodiment, the angle of pivotal motion of the pivotableportion 107 between its laid and raised postures is selected at 110degrees. Thus, the position of the common axis line of the two pivotalsupport shafts 105 is determined in the following manner:

The special paper sheets accommodated by the second tray 92 arepositioned relative to the same 92 by being sandwiched by theleading-end contact member 120 and the trailing-end contact member 121.Therefore, when the pivotable portion 107 is pivoted and accordingly thesecond tray 107 changes its posture, the leading ends of the specialsheets remain positioned by the leading-end contact member 120. However,the trailing ends of the special sheets are moved with the pivotableportion 107. In other words, the pivotable portion 107 is pivoted aboutthe common axis line of the two pivotal support shafts 105, whereas thetrailing ends of the special sheets are pivoted about the leading endsthereof positioned by the leading-end contact member 120. Therefore, alocus of the pivotal motion of the special sheets coincides with avirtual circle 122 whose radius is equal to a dimension of the specialssheets in the sheet-supply direction, i.e., in the lengthwise directionof the second tray 92.

In the present embodiment, the angle of pivotal motion of the pivotableportion 107 between its laid posture and its raised posture is selectedat 110 degrees, and the trailing-end contact member 121 of the pivotableportion 107 being in its raised posture is located on the virtual circle122, as shown in FIG. 10. However, under the condition that thetrailing-end contact member 121 is located on the virtual circle 122,the position of the pivotable portion 107 being in its raised posturecannot be univocally determined. That is, the pivotable portion 107 maybe located at any position so long as the trailing-end contact member121 is located on the virtual circle 122. Meanwhile, the position of thepivotable portion 107 being in its raised posture should beappropriately determined such that when the second tray 92 is in itsopening posture, i.e., when the pivotable portion 107 is in its raisedposture, the first tray 91 is largely opened.

If the position of the pivotable portion 107 being in its raised posturehas been determined, then it can be known that the trailing-end contactmember 121 of the pivotable portion 107 is moved from a first position123 corresponding to the laid posture, to a second position 124corresponding to the raised posture, and the downstream-side end of thepivotable portion 107 is moved from a third position 125 correspondingto the laid posture, to a fourth position 126 corresponding to theraised posture. Then, a normal bisector 128 of a virtual straight line127 connecting between the first and second positions 123, 124, and anormal bisector 130 of a virtual straight line 129 connecting betweenthe third and fourth positions 125, 126 can be obtained, and a positionof an intersection of the two normal bisectors 128, 30 can be determinedas the position of the common axis line of the two pivotal supportshafts 105. If the common axis line of the support shafts 105 is locatedat the thus determined position, then the trailing-end contact member121 of the pivotable portion 107 is moved from the first position 123 tothe second position 124 on a first arc whose center rides on the commonaxis line, and the downstream-side end of the pivotable portion 107 ismoved from the third position 125 to the fourth position 126 on a secondarc whose center rides on the common axis line.

FIG. 11 is a view for illustratively showing the manner in which thesecond tray 92 changes its posture when the pivotable portion 107 ispivoted about the pivotal support shafts 105 in a direction indicated byArrow 131.

As shown in the figure, if the position of the common axis line of thetwo pivotal support shafts 105 is determined in the above-describedmanner, then a distance 132 between the leading-end contact member 120and the trailing-end contact member 121 when the second tray 92 is inits stacked posture is equal to a distance 133 between the two contactmembers 120, 121 when the second tray 92 is in its opening posture, andis also equal to the dimension of each special paper sheet in thelengthwise direction of the second tray 92, i.e., the sheet-supplydirection.

However, the leading-end contact member 120 of the base portion 106 isinclined relative to the sheet-support surface 113 of the pivotableportion 107. In addition, as described above, the maximum number ofspecial paper sheets that can be stacked on each other in the secondtray 92 is prescribed. Therefore, the common axis line of the twopivotal support shafts 105 is located at the position assuring that whenthe second tray 92 is selectively changed to its stacked posture and itsopening posture, a first distance between a first portion of theleading-end contact member 120 (i.e., the first positioning wall) of thebase portion 106 that contacts and positions the leading end of thelowermost one of the maximum number of stacked special sheets, and asecond portion of the trailing-end contact member 121 (i.e., the secondpositioning wall) of the pivotable portion 107 that contacts andpositions the trailing end of the lowermost special sheet continues tobe not smaller than a dimension of the lowermost special sheet in thesheet-supply direction, and a second distance between a third portion ofthe leading-end contact member 120 that contacts and positions theleading end of the uppermost one of the maximum number of stackedspecial sheets, and a fourth portion of the trailing-end contact member121 that contacts and positions the trailing end of the uppermostspecial sheet continues to be not smaller than a dimension of theuppermost special sheet in the sheet-supply direction. The leading-endcontact member 120 of the base portion 106 is inclined relative to thesheet-support surface 113 of the pivotable portion 107 such that theabove-indicated second distance is greater than the above-indicatedfirst distance, as shown in FIG. 11.

In addition, the trailing-end contact member 121 of the pivotableportion 107 is moved on the first arc that is located outside thevirtual circle 122, because the center of the virtual circle 122 islocated on the leading-end contact member 120 of the base portion 106,the radius of the same 122 is equal to the distance 132, and thedownstream-side end of the pivotable portion 107 is moved on the secondarc which is located the left-hand side of the pivotal support shafts105 (FIG. 10), whose center is located on the pivotal support shafts105, and whose radius is equal to a distance between the downstream-sideend and the pivotal support shafts 105. Thus, in the present embodiment,when the pivotable portion 107 is pivoted and the second tray 92 changesits posture, the distance between the leading-end contact member 120 andthe trailing-end contact member 121 does not become smaller than thedimension of each special paper sheet in the sheet-supply direction,i.e., continues to be equal to, or greater than, the dimension. Thisdimension is equal to a distance between the leading-end contact member120 and the trailing-end contact member 121 in the sheet-supplydirection in the state in which the second tray 92 takes its stackedposture.

In the present embodiment, the position of the common axis line of thetwo pivotal support shafts 105 is determined in the above-describedmanner. However, the position may be determined under a differentcondition. For example, although, in the present embodiment, theposition is determined under the condition that the angle of pivotalmotion of the pivotable portion 107 between its laid posture and itsraised posture is prescribed at 110 degrees, the position may bedetermined based on not the prescribed angle but respective prescribedpositions of the trailing-end contact member 121 and the downstream-sideend of the pivotable portion 107 being in its laid posture andrespective prescribed positions of the trailing-end contact member 121and the downstream-side end of the pivotable portion 107 being in itsraised posture. In this case, too, a normal bisector of a virtualstraight line connecting between the respective positions of thetrailing-end contact member 121 of the pivotable portion 107 in the laidand raised postures, and a normal bisector of a virtual straight lineconnecting between the respective positions of the downstream-side endof the pivotable portion 107 in the laid and raised postures areobtained, and a position of an intersection of the two normal bisectorsis determined as the position of the common axis line of the pivotalsupport shafts 105.

The position of the common axis line of the two pivotal support shafts105 can be arbitrarily determined by adjusting the position of thedownstream-side end of the pivotable portion 107. For example, in thecase where the position of the common axis line of the pivotal supportshafts 105 is adjusted or moved in a direction indicated by a whitearrow 136, shown in FIG. 11, the trailing-end contact member 121 of thepivotable portion 107 is moved on a locus located outside the virtualcircle 122, i.e., distant leftward from the same 122 in FIG. 10.Therefore, when the pivotable portion 107 is pivoted, the distancebetween the leading-end contact member 120 and the trailing-end contactmember 121 in the sheet-supply direction becomes larger than thedimension of each special paper sheet in the same direction. Preferably,the common axis line of the pivotal support shafts 105 is located on anopposite side of the bottom wall (i.e., the sheet-support wall) of thepivotable portion 107 that is opposite to the first tray 91, on theleft-hand side of the leading-end contact member 120 (FIG. 10), and onthe right-hand side of the trailing-end contact member 121 (FIG. 10).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sheet-discharge tray 21 is constituted bythe second tray 92 of the sheet-supply tray device 20. As shown in FIG.2, when an ordinary paper sheet is supplied from the first tray 91 ofthe sheet-supply tray device 20 and an image is recorded on the ordinarysheet, respective upper surfaces of the two sheet covers 111, 112 and anupper surface 134 of the second tray 92 cooperate with each other tofunction as the sheet-discharge tray 21; and when a special paper sheetis supplied from the second tray 92 of the sheet-supply tray device 20and an image is recorded on the special sheet, the respective uppersurfaces of the two sheet covers 111, 112 function as thesheet-discharge tray 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet-supply roller 25 as a sheet mover isprovided above the sheet-supply tray device 20, and is pressed againstthe recording sheets stacked in the tray device 20. The sheet-supplyroller 25 cooperates with the inclined sheet-separate plate 102 toseparate each of the recording sheets stacked in the sheet-supply traydevice 20, from the other recording sheets, and supplies the thusseparated recording sheet to the sheet-convey path 23. The sheet-supplyroller 25 is rotatably supported by a lower end portion of asheet-supply arm 26. In addition, the sheet-supply arm 26 supports apower transmission device 27 that includes a plurality of gears meshedwith each other and that is connected, at one end thereof, to thesheet-supply roller 25. When an electric motor (not shown) that isconnected to the other end of the power transmission device 27 is drivenor rotated, a driving power of the motor is transmitted to thesheet-supply roller 25 via the transmission device 27, so that theroller 25 is rotated to move each recording sheet toward the inclinedsheet-separate plate 102. The sheet-supply roller 25, the sheet-supplyarm 26, the power transmission device 27, and the electric motor (notshown) cooperate with each other to constitute a portion of a movingdevice that moves each recording sheet.

An upper or base end portion of the sheet-supply arm 26 is supported byan axis member 26 a, such that the arm 26 is pivotable downward andupward about the axis member 26 a so as to be moved toward, and awayfrom, the sheet-supply tray device 20. As shown in FIG. 2, a self-weightof the sheet-supply arm 26 biases the arm 26 downward toward thesheet-supply tray device 20. In the figure, the second tray 92 takes aretracted position thereof (i.e., a left-hand position thereof) relativeto the first tray 91, as a result of sliding of the second tray 92 in adirection opposite to the sheet-supply direction. Thus, the sheet-supplyroller 25 is contacted with the ordinary sheets accommodated by thefirst tray 91. On the other hand, if the sheet-supply tray device 20 isremoved from the MFD1, subsequently the second tray 92 is sliddownstream with respect to the sheet-supply direction, so as to take anadvanced position thereof relative to the first tray 91, and then thesheet-supply tray device 20 is inserted again into the MFD 1, then thesecond tray 92 engages and moves the sheet-supply arm 26 upward, i.e.,pivots the arm 26 counterclockwise, so that the sheet-supply roller 25is contacted with the special paper sheets accommodated by the secondtray 92. Thus, the user can easily change the first sort of recordingsheets that are currently used for recording of images, to the secondsort of recording sheets that are to be next used for recording ofimages, by means of just sliding the second tray 92 relative to thefirst tray 91, i.e., without exchanging the two sorts of recordingsheets with each other in the first or second tray 91, 92.

When the sheet-supply tray device 20 also functioning as thesheet-discharge tray 21 is inserted into, or removed from, the MFD 1 viathe front opening 4 (FIG. 2), the sheet-supply arm 26 is forcedlyretracted to an upper position thereof. In the state in which thesheet-supply arm 26 is pivoted downward, the sheet-supply roller 25supported by the lower end portion of the arm 26 is pressed on theuppermost one of the recording sheets stacked in the sheet-supply traydevice 20. If, in this state, the sheet-supply roller 25 is rotated, africtional force is produced between an outer circumferential surface ofthe roller 25 and an upper surface of the uppermost recording sheet and,owing to this frictional force, the uppermost sheet is moved toward theinclined sheet-separate plate 102. When the leading end of the uppermostrecording sheet engages the inclined sheet-separate plate 102, therecording sheet is guided upward toward the sheet-convey path 23. Whenthe uppermost recording sheet is moved toward the inclinedsheet-separate plate 102, the underlying recording sheet or sheets maybe moved with the uppermost sheet, because of the friction or staticelectricity produced therebetween. However, no further movement of theunderlying recording sheet or sheets is allowed by the sheet-separateplate 102.

The sheet-convey path 23 is defined, except for a portion thereofcorresponding to the image recording unit 24 as the image recordingdevice, by an outside guide surface and an inside guide surface that arespaced from, and opposed to, each other. For example, a rear portion ofthe sheet-convey path 23 that is located in the rear portion of the MFD1, is defined by an outside guide member 18 and an insider guide member19 that are fixed to an inner frame of the MFD 1. The outside guidemember 18 supports a plurality of sheet-convey rollers 17 such that eachof the sheet-convey rollers 17 is rotatable about an axis line parallelto the widthwise direction of the sheet-convey path 23. An outercircumferential surface of each sheet-convey roller 17 is exposed in aninner guide surface of the outside guide member 18 so as to be able toengage each recording sheet. Owing to the sheet-convey rollers 17, eachrecording sheet can be smoothly conveyed while engaging a curved portionof the outside guide member 18 that corresponds to the U-shaped curvedportion of the sheet-convey path 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image recording unit 24 is provided midway inthe sheet-convey path 23. The image recording unit 24 includes anink-jet recording head 39, and a carriage 38 that carries the recordinghead 39 and that can be reciprocated in a scanning direction along twoguide members 43, 44. Four ink cartridges (not shown) are provided, inthe MFD 1, at a location remote from the carriage 38 or the recordinghead 39. The four ink cartridges store a cyan ink (C), a magenta ink(M), a yellow ink (Y), and a black ink (Bk), respectively, and supplythose inks to the recording head 39 via respective ink-supply tubes (notshown). While the carriage 38 is reciprocated, the ink-jet recordinghead 39 ejects droplets of the inks toward each recording sheet beingpositioned on a platen 42 opposed to the recording head 39, so that animage is recorded on the recording sheet. Though the present embodimentrelates to the MFD 1 constructed as the ink-jet recording apparatus, theprinciple of the present invention is applicable to various types ofimage recording devices. Thus, the MFD 1 may employ any other type ofimage-recording technique, such as a laser-type or thermal-typeimage-recording technique.

As is apparent from the foregoing description of the present embodiment,since the sheet-supply tray device 20 of the MFD 1 includes the firsttray 91 and the second tray 92, ordinary paper sheets of a size notsmaller than A-4 Size can be accommodated by the first tray 91, andspecial paper sheets such as L-Size glossy sheets can be accommodated bythe second tray 92. Therefore, the MFD 1 can record an image on each ofthe two sorts of recording sheets, while a user need not exchange thetwo sorts of recording sheets with each other. When the user replenishesthe first tray 91 with new ordinary sheets, the second tray 92 ischanged to its opening posture relative to the first tray. Thus, thefirst tray 91 is opened and accordingly the user can easily replenishthe first tray 91 with new recording sheets.

As described above by reference to FIG. 11, even if the second tray 92may change its posture, the distance between the leading-end contactmember 120 and the trailing-end contact member 121 continues to be notsmaller than the prescribed dimension or length, the special sheetsaccommodated by the second tray 92 can be prevented from beingplastically deformed (e.g., folded back), or dropping out of the tray92. Thus, the user can smoothly carry out the replenishing of the firsttray 91 with new ordinary sheets.

In addition, as described above, the leading and trailing ends of eachof the special sheets can be positioned by the leading-end contactmember 120 and the trailing-end contact member 121 of the second tray92. Therefore, even if the second tray 92 may change its posture, thespecial sheets remain aligned with each other with respect to thesheet-supply direction. Thus, the special sheets can be constantly orstably supplied from the sheet-supply tray device 20 in the sheet-supplydirection. In particular, the second tray 92 changes its posture as aresult of the pivotal motion of the pivotable portion 107 relative tothe base portion 106. Since the pivotable portion 107 is pivotablysupported by the pivotal support shafts 105 as the supporting device 104that permits the second tray 92 to change its posture, the supportingdevice 104 can enjoy a simple arrangement.

Moreover, the pivotal support shafts 105 are located at theabove-described position. Therefore, even if the second tray 92 maychange its posture, the distance between the leading-end contact member120 and the trailing-end contact member 121 continues to be not smallerthan the dimension of each special sheet in the sheet-supply direction.Thus, each special sheet can be reliably prevented from beingirreversibly or plastically deformed. In particular, in the presentembodiment, the position of the pivotal support shafts 105 is determinedsuch that the distance between the leading-end contact member 120 andthe trailing-end contact member 121 when the second tray 92 takes thestacked posture thereof, and the distance between the leading-endcontact member 120 and the trailing-end contact member 121 when thesecond tray 92 takes the opening posture thereof are equal to eachother, and also equal to the dimension of each special sheet in thesheet-supply direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the pivotalsupport shafts 105 are provided in the vicinity of respective adjacentportions of the base portion 106 and the pivotable portion 107 that areadjust to each other in the sheet-supply direction. Consequently thesheet-supply tray device 20 can enjoy a small thickness, i.e., a smalldimension in the upward and downward directions. This leads to reducingthe height dimension of the MFD 1 as a whole. As described above byreference to FIG. 11, since the position of the pivotal support shafts105 is away, in the direction 136, from the center of the virtual circle122, the trailing-end contact member 121 is moved outside the virtualcircle 122, shown in FIG. 10. Thus, the special sheets can be reliablyprevented from being curved or folded, i.e., damaged. In the lattercase, however, since the position of the pivotal support shafts 105 ismoved upward, the thickness of the sheet-supply tray device 20 isincreased as such.

In addition, in the present embodiment, when the second tray 92 ischanged to its opening posture, the pivotable portion 107 is pivotedabout the support shafts 105 by 110 degrees. As shown in FIG. 9, if thepivotable portion 107 is pivoted by not less than 90 degrees to changethe second tray 92 to its opening posture, then the second tray 92 isbiased, owing to a self weight thereof, in a direction toward itsopening posture to open the first tray 91. Thus, the second tray 92 isnaturally held at its opening posture. Therefore, when the userreplenishes the first tray 91 with new recording sheets, the user neednot continue to hold, with his or her hand, the second tray 92 at itsopening posture. Thus, new ordinary sheets can be easily charged intothe first tray 91.

It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied withvarious changes, modifications, and improvements that may occur to aperson skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sheet-supply tray device for use with an imagerecording apparatus, the sheet-supply tray device comprising: a lowersheet-supply tray; and an upper sheet-supply tray configured to belocated above the lower sheet-supply tray, the upper sheet-supply traycomprising: a main body which comprises a support surface, the supportsurface being configured to support at least one recording sheet; aleading-end stopper fixed on the main body, the leading-end stopperbeing configured to stop a leading end of the at least one recordingsheet; and a pair of side-end stoppers each of which comprises aside-end contact surface configured to contact a corresponding one ofopposite side ends of the at least one recording sheet, the side-endcontact surface of said each side-end stopper having at least oneside-end protrusion configured to cover at least one part of the atleast one recording sheet, wherein the upper sheet-supply tray isconfigured to be positioned, above the lower sheet-supply tray, at anarbitrarily selected one of (a) a supply position in which the at leastone recording sheet is supplied from the upper sheet-supply tray and (b)a non-supply position in which the at least one recording sheet is notsupplied from the upper sheet-supply tray.
 2. The sheet-supply traydevice according to claim 1, wherein the respective side-end protrusionsof the pair of side-end stoppers extend toward each other.
 3. Thesheet-supply tray device according to claim 1, wherein the respectiveside-end protrusions of the pair of side-end stoppers have differentlengths in a sheet-supply direction in which the at least one recordingsheet is supplied from the upper sheet-supply tray.
 4. The sheet-supplytray device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the pair ofside-end stoppers is slideable so as to change a distance between thepair of side-end stoppers.
 5. The sheet-supply tray device according toclaim 1, further comprising: a trailing-end stopper which comprises atrailing-end contact surface, the trailing-end contact surface having atleast one trailing-end protrusion extending toward the leading-endstopper, the trailing-end contact surface being configured to contact atrailing end of the at least one recording sheet.
 6. The sheet-supplytray device according to claim 5, wherein the trailing-end stopper isslideable relative to the leading-end stopper in a sheet-supplydirection so as to change a distance between the leading-end stopper andthe trailing-end stopper in the sheet-supply direction.